Quill-cleaning machine.



G. W UTSMAN. QUILL CLEANING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1914.

Patented J uly 31, 191?.

2 SHE T SP'UTI gwuwrtoz G. W. UTSMAN.

QLHLL CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON men SEPT. 29. 1914.

Patented July 31,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mk M MM Parana orrcn.

GEORGE W. 'UTSMAN, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOE TO WILLIAM D.HESTER, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

QUILL-CLEANING Maonrnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed September 29, 1914. Serial No. 864,075.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. UTSMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina,have invented certain new useful Improvements in Quill-CleaningMachines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel machine for stripping or cleaning bobbins orquills commonly used in connection with cotton weaving machinery. Thecotton or thread is wound upon these quills and when the thread isunwound therefrom usually various strands or pieces of thread adhere tothe quill and must be removed before a fresh supply of thread is woundupon the quill. The bobbins or quills have been usually cleaned by hand,and such operation is troublesome and slow. The object of the presentinvention is to provide automatically operating machinery for cleaningsuch bobbins or quills, and the invention includes novel mechanism forcleaning the quills successively as hereinafter explained.

The invention is capable of embodiment in various forms when onceunderstood, and I will explain same in connection with an operative formof apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a side elevation of the complete bobbin or quill stripping machine.v

Fig. 2 is a top planview thereof showing it in quill releasing position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing it in quill stripping position.

Fig. 4: is a detail vertical section on line Fig. 1. r

Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5-5, Fig. 8.

The machine shown in the drawings is composed of a plurality of sidebars 1 and end and intermediate bars 1 mounted upon standards 1". Uponone end of this frame is mounted a hopper 9 in which, the quills orspindles 10 are placed and which has an opening in its lowerend throughwhich the quills successively drop into position to be engaged by thequill stripping and gripping devices. The quill strippers are shown asmetal plates 6 attached to the free ends of opposite levers 6 which arepivoted, at 6 upon an intermediate transverse bar 1 of the frame in rearof the hopper. These levers 6 are normally swung inward so as to causethe plates 6 to engage a quill 10 by means of springs which are arrangedin any suitable manner, but are shown as helical springs 8 attached at 6to lever 6 and at 1 to the side bars of the frame. The strippers 6 havenotches 6 in their, opposed faces to enable them to properly engage thesurface of the bobbin or quill to be cleaned.

A reciprocatory cross head 3 is shown as slidably mounted upon guidebars or rods 5, the forward ends-0f which are pivoted at 5 to the levers6, and their rear ends are mounted on brackets 7 on the side bars 1.

The cross head 3 may be reciprocated in any suitable manner, and isshown as pivotally connected at 3 to one end of a pit man 2*, the otherend of which is connected to a crank 2 on a transverse shaft 2 journaledin bearings 2 on side bars 1, and shaft 2 may be driven by any suitablemeans, as bya belt 2 engaging a pulley 2, on said shaft, and actuatedfrom any suitable motor or driver not shown. As the shaft rotates thecross head 3 is reciprocated back and forth upon the guides 5.

To the cross head 3 are connected the rear ends of horizontally disposedgrippers 4c, the forward ends of which are shown as pro- ,vided withinwardly projecting teeth 4 adapted to engage the head of a bobbin orquill 10 lying in the bottom of hopper 9. The toothed ends of thegrippers may be drawn toward each other by means of a spring 4*,connected to said grippers in any suitable manner. The grippers may beopened to engagea bobbin at the proper time by any suitable means. Asshown, to one of these grippers 4 is connected a spreader 4?, which maybe pivoted thereto as at M, if desired, and the free end of thisspreader projects through a slot 4 in the opposed gripper 4 intoposition to engage with stops 1 and 1,the former of which is attached tothe cross piece 1 adjacent the hopper, and

the other to the intermediate cross piece 1 to-which the levers 6 arepivoted.

The guides 5 are shown as provided with adjustable stop. nuts 5 withwhich the crosshead engages when it is drawn back to rearmost position,see Fig. 2, and thus causes the guides 5 to swing levers 6 so as toseparate the strippers 6". The closing movement of the strippers may beregulated by nuts 5 on the rear ends of the guideszfi.

As the cross-head 3 reaches its rearmost position, Fig. 2, the free endof spreader 4 engages stop 1 and is swung thereby 1nto the positionindicated in Fig. 2, spreading the grippers el apart and releasing thebobbin, and the spreader f will hold the grip pers open until the crosshead moves inward and the gripper ends are in position to engage thehead of aspindle 10 in the bottom of the hopper, at which time thespreader r engages stop 1 and is swung thereby to the position shown inFig. 3, allowing spring 4 to close the grippers upon the bobbin asindioated; while springs 8 will have swung levers 6 so that thestrippers 6" engage the quill as shown in Fig. 3. The cross head mayhave its openings engaging gu1desr5 slightly rounded, as indicated at 3,and may be provided with lubricating cups, indicated at 8. 7

0p erotic n.

The hopper is so designed that the quills will descend one at a time tothe opening in the bottom thereof into the position indicated in Fig.2-. As the grippers at move toward the hopper they remain open untilthey are in position to engage the head of a quill exposed in the recessin the lower part of the hopper just before which the spreader etengages stop 1', and as the cross head continues to move towardthehopper the spring at" closes the grippers upon the head of thebobbin; previous to which the springs 8 cause the strippers 6 to engagethe quill as indicated in Fig. 8.

Then when the cross head moves rearward the grippers pull the bobbinfrom the hopper and between the strippers which clean it of allravelings, etc, and when the cross head nears its rearmost position, asshown in Fig. 2, the spreader i engages the stop 1 and spreads thegrippers apart, releasing the spindle 10 as indicated in Fig. 2, and atabout the same time the cross head engages the stops 5 and pulls theguides 5 slightly backward, causing the levers 6 to swing and separatethe strippers 6 which permits the lowermost quill in the hopper to dropinto position for removal. hen the cross head starts forward again thesprings 8 close the strippers upon the bobbin, as indicated in Fig. 3,and when the grippers have nearly reached the bobbin engagingpositionthe spreader a is thrown backward as indicated in Fig. 3, andthe grippers engage the bobbin as before described.

it will be seen that the machine when properly constructed will beentirely automatic in operation, and that if the bobbins areproperlyplaced in the hopper they will be successively withdrawntherefrom and cleaned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Lettors Patent is:

1. A machine for automatically cleaning quills for cotton weavingmachines, comprising a hopper having a recess for exposing the heads ofthe quills, means for withdrawing the quills from said hopper, andspring controlled, cleaning plates for stripping the fuzz from thequills as they are withdrawn from the hopper. V

2. In a machine of the character. described the combination of arecessed hopper, pivoted arms, cleaner plates carried by said arms,spring jaw members for withdrawing the quills from the hopper, and meansfor actuating the jaw members and the cleaning plates.

3. In a bobbin stripping machine comn'isingvieldable stri mine aws. griJin u r c 1 i, 2: I

jaws adapted to engage the base of the bobbin and draw the, barrelthereof through said stripping jaws, and means for opening said grippingjaws to discharge the stripped bobbin. 7

l. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a frame,spring actuated levers pivoted on such frame, strippers attached to saidlevers, a reciprocating member, grippers attached to said member adaptedto engage a quill, means for causing the grippers to engage a quill atthe proper time, and means for causing the grippers to release the quillat the proper time.

In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a frame, sping actuated levers pivoted on such frame, strippers attached to saidlevers, a reciprocating cross head, grippers attached to said cross headadapted to engage a quill, means for recip rocating said cross head,guides for said cross head, and means operated by the cross head, andguides for causing the strippers to engage or disengage a quill.

6. In machine of the character specified, the combination of a frame, aQuill feeding hopper, spring actuated strippers. a reciprocating member,gripper bars attached to said member adapted to engage a quill, meansfor reciprocating said member, guides for said cross head, and meanswhereby the cross head controls the'strippers, and means for causing thegrippers to engage and release a quill at the proper times.

7. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a frame,a quill feeding hopper, s ring actuated levers pivoted on such frame,strippers attached to said levers, a reciprocating member, gripper barsattached to said member adapted to engage a quill, means forreciprocating said member, guidesfor said cross head, means whereby thecross head causes the strippers to separate when a quill has beenwithdrawn from the hopper, and means for causing the grippers to engagea quill at the proper time, and means for causing the grippers todischarge the quill at the proper time.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a crankshaft journaled thereon, spring jaw members connected to said shaftadapted to engage the base of a bobbin and draw the barrel thereofthrough the stripping plates, means for opening and closing said jawmembers, and stripping plates for cleaning the quills.

9. A quill cleaning machine comprising a crank shaft, spring jaw membersconnected tosaid crank shaft adapted to engage the base of a bobbin anddraw the barrel thereof through the stripping plates, means for holdingsaid members normally separated, means for closing said jaws to engage aquill, and stripping plates for cleaning the threads from the quills.

10. A machine for automatically cleaning bobbins comprising a hopper,means for engaging 'the heads of the bobbins and withdrawing them fromsaid hopper and through the stripping means, and means for stripping thebobbins.

11. In a machine of the character described the combination of ahopper-,strippers beside the hopper, grippers for withdrawing bobbinsfrom the hopper and through the stripping means, means for actuating thegrippers, and means. for operating the strippers.

12. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a shaft journaled thereon, spring actuated bobbin grippers adapted to engage theheads of the bobbins and draw them through the strippers, connectionsfor reciprocating the grippers from said shaft, means for opening saidgrippers preparatory to receiving a bobbin, means for closing thegrippers, and strippers for cleaning the bob- 13. A bobbin cleaningmachine comprising a crank shaft, grippers actuated by said crank shaftadapted to engage the heads of the bobbins and draw them through thestrippers, means for opening said grippers preparatory to receiving abobbin, means for closing said grippers to engage a bobbin, andstrippers for removing waste, etc., from the bobbins.

14. A bobbin stripping machine comprising, strippers, grippers adaptedto engage the head of a bobbin and draw the barrel thereof through saidstrippers, and means for positively opening said grippers to release thestripped bobbin.

15. In a machine of the character specified the combination ofreciprocatory grippers adapted to engage the head of a bobbin, strippersadapted to engage the body of the bobbin, means for causing the grippersto engage the head of a bobbin and draw the body thereof between thestrippers, and

means for positively opening the grippers to release the cleaned bobbin.

'16. In a machine of the class described, stripping mechanism adapted toengage the barrel of a bobbin, gripping mechanism and means for causingthe same to engage the base of the bobbin and draw the barrel thereofthrough said stripping mechanism, and means for actuating said grippingmechanism to release the stripped bobbin.

17. Ina machine of the class described stripping mechanism comprisingyieldable jaws adapted to engage the barrel of a bobbin, grippingmechanism, and means for causing the same to engage the base of thebobbin and draw the barrel thereof through said stripping jaws and meansfor actuating said gripping mechanism to release the stripped bobbin.

18. In a bobbin stripping machine, yieldable stripping jaws adapted toengage the barrel of a bobbin, means for separating said stripping jawsfor the reception of the bobbin, a reciprocating gripper havingyieldable jaws adapted to engage the base of the bobbin and draw thebarrel thereof through said stripping jaws, and means for separatingsaid grippmg jaws to release the stripped bobbin.

19. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a crankshaft ourna-led thereon, spring jaw members connected to said shaft,means for positively opening said jaw members preparatory to receiving abobbin and means for closing said jaw members, and stripping plates forcleaning the bobbin. 20. In a bobbin stripping machine comprisingyieldable stripping jaws, gripping jaws adapted to engage the base ofthe bobbin and draw the barrel thereof through said stripping jaws,means for opening said gripping jaws to discharge the stripped bobbin;and means for feeding the bobbins to the gripping jaws.

21. In a machine of the class described the combination of a feedhopper; with stripping mechanism adapted to engage the barrel of abobbin, gripping mechanism and means for causing the same to engage thebase of a bobbin and draw it from the hopper and through said strippingmechanism, and means for actuating said gripping mechanism to releasethe stripped bobbin.

22. In a machine of the class described the combination of a feedhopper; with stripping mechanism comprising yieldable jaws adapted toengage the barrel of a bobbin, gripping mechanism, and means for causingthe same to engage the base of the bob bin and withdraw it from thehopper and draw the barrel thereof through said stripping jaws and meansfor actuating said gripping mechanism to release the stripped bobbin.

23. In a bobbin stripping machine the combination of a feed hopper; withyield able stripping j aws, gripping jaws adapted to engage he base ofthe bobbin and withdraw it from the hopper and draw the barrel thereofthrough said stripping jaws and means for opening said gripping jaws todischarge the stripped bobbin.

2%. In bobbin stripping machine the combination of a feed hopper; withyield able stripping jaws adapted to engage the barrel of a bobbin,means for separating said stripping jaws for the reception of thebobbin. a reciprocating gripper having yieldable jaws adapted to engagethe base of the bobbin and withdraw it from the hopper and draw thebarrel thereof through said stripping jaws, and means for separatingsaid gripping jaws to release the stripped bobin a bobbin strippingmachine yield able stripping jaws adapted to engage the barrel of abobbiin means for separatin said stripping jaws preparatory to thereception of the bobbiina guide for said bobbin. a reciprocating gripperadapted to engage the base of the bobbin and draw the barrel thereofthrough said stripping jaws and means for releasing the stripped bobbinfrom said gripping jaws.

26. A bobbin stripper comprising stripping members, a gripper havingspring jaws adapted to engage the base of the bobbin and draw the barrelthereof through said stripping means, a crank shaft connected to saidgripper and a hopper for automatically feed-- mg bobbins to the saidgripper, from which hopper the bobbins are drawn in the strippingoperation.

27. A bobbin stripper comprising stripping members. a reciprocatingcrosshead having grippers adapted to engage the base of the bobbin anddraw the barrel thereof through said stripping members means forreciprocating said cross head. a crank shaft and a pitman connectingsaid lever and cross head, and ahopper for automatically feed ingbobbins to the said gripper from which hopper the bobbins are drawninthe'stripping operation.

28. A bobbin stripper comprising a table,

stri 1 vin members havin bobbin enoagin C! D u O means and a relativelymovable cooperating gripper adapted to draw a bobbin through saidstripping members to remove the waste therefrom mounted on said table,and means for actuating said stripping members and said gripper; with afeed hopper for automatically directing bobbinshead first into positionto be seized by the gripperfrom which hopper the bobbins are drawn inthe stripping operation.

In testimony that I claiin'the foregoing as my own I aiii); my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

GE ORGE TV. UTSMAN. Vitne sses:

L. G. Conn, G. B. hiLinnI-Lur.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe ficmmissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. b. r r

